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Thousands of people used bicycles to cross the Arctic border between Russia and Norway

Norway has sent 13 migrants back to Russia under new rules expected to see thousands deported by bus, reports say.

About 5,500 people are due to be transported from Norway to Russia. Many crossed the Arctic border by bicycle as part of the influx of migrants to Europe in 2015.

Norway announced in November it would immediately deport people who had arrived from a country deemed safe.

The first bus left a refugee shelter in the town of Kirkenes earlier.

Norway previously planned to send the migrants back to Russia by bicycle due to rules that banned vehicles from transporting people across the border without the necessary documents. People were also prohibited from crossing on foot.

Thousands of migrants used bicycles to cross the border last year after discovering a loophole in the law.

Although Norway is not a member of the EU, it is part of the Schengen Agreement which is designed to provide border-free travel.

A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.